Matrix retainer



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D. REITER V 2,453,541

MATRIXRETAINER Filed July 11, 1 3 Y Patented Nov.'9, 1948 MATRIX RETAINER David Reiter, Woodside, Long Island, N. Y 1946, Serial No. 682,897 Claims. (01. 324B) Application July 11,

This invention particularly adapted for use in the profession of the art of dentistry.

An object of the the cavity can becondensed without the filling material escaping out of the cavity.

The above and numerous other objects will become apparent from the succeeding description considered together with drawing, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a matrix band retainer embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the matrix band retainer illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is aview depicting a part of the matrix band retainer applied to a tooth. I

Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, a dental matrix band retainer exemplifying aform of the presentinvention.

In the practice of that vided in the tainer 2 comprising a frameor housing 3 being formed preferably by a top and bottom leg 4 exthe accompanying pertains to a matrix retainer nally thereof the stem tom legs are joined together at or adjacent their forward extremities by a top and bottom legs while the rear wall may,if desired, be formed of an increased thickness but being rather circular in configuration so as to extend beyond the extended limits of the legs. By so forming the rear wall an appreciable bearing area will be presented for the accommodation in the frame guideway. Extending longitudinally of the frame is a barrel, yoke or tubular sleeve l I positioned Within the guideway and formed integrally with the :block as a rigid part thereof. The sleeve is interiorly threaded in adirection toward the rear wall.

be manipulated. The head is power means may the rear positioned outward of the frame from wall and interposed between the knob and rear wall is a washer M which, if desired, may be eliminated from the structure but it is shown and described herein because in addition to forming a innen end of the knob is a stem 15 extending through? suitable alignedapertures in the washer and rear wall to be centrally positioned within the guideway and threadedly associated with the block barrel. Any manipulation ofthe power means to efifect a rotary motion thereof will result in the block moving along orwithin the guideway in a direction toward or away from the front wall depending entirely upon the direction of movement of the power means. In orderto prevent the power means from moving axially or 1ongitudiis provided with a thrust FFICE and extends d in the rear wall andcarried 3 collar [6 locked to the stem by any desirable means such as the illustrated set screw l1 and the collar is desirably in abutting relation with the rear wall within the guideway. Each leg at its juncture with the rear wall is formed with a relief ii! to afford ample clearance for the collar I and its associated set screw. Thus while the knob prevents a movement of the power means inwardly of the frame the collar, prevents movement of the power means outwardly of the frame and the power means is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis to move direction.

The block is provided with a transversely and centrally disposed bore through which there extends a shaft, axle or pintle l9. The pintle may be arranged to remain in a pivotal manner relative to the block just so long as it is arranged to move along the guidewayin response to a corresponding movement of the block. The shaft has its respective ends extending beyond the transverse limits of the block fora predetermined distance and for a purposeto be made hereinafter apparent. Disposed at each side'of the block is a post or standard or swivel member Z-llhaving a countersunk; centrally disposed opening occupied by a correspondinglyformed journal 21 of the shaft end. Each post is arranged locked toa pintle extremity and arranged to move relative thereto and relative to one another about the axis of the shaft. Extending entirely through each post in a direction longitudinallyfof the retainer is a slot or passageway' 2'2 and through each passageway there extends an. extremity of a continuous, uninterrupted dental matrix band 23 formed of" extremely light'gauge stainless steel or any desired material. Eachpost, in axial alignment with the pintle, is provided'with an interiorly threaded hole which is occupied bya=holding means or headed set' screw 24': Theheaded set screws may be manipulated in a rotary manner to move inwardly or out wardly of the post hole; By aproper manipulation of the headed set screws, ends thereof which are free to'project into the post slots, lock adental matrix band to the posts so that any movement ofthe block will be reflected in the dentar matrix band; The postholes are-preferably, as stated,- in alignment with the pintle so that upon assembly of the components; tools may be inserted in the post holes to form the countersunk heads on the pintle.

When a dental-matrix band is to be associated with a tooth that has been previously prepared by drillingthe required or necessary cavity; the band is inserted into-the post slots and the headed set screws manipulated in such a manner as to bind the respective ends in associated posts 'to forma loop 25 of sufficient" dimensions to extend around-thetooth to betreated. The matrix band thus screwed to the retainer is then placed loosely aboutthe tooth to be treated at which time the '.power means, is manipulated to draw the block" toward the frame front wall. As the" band is drawn against the tooth the frame end Wallis urged toward and against thetooth' and asthe band tightening process continues'the posts will rotate individually about their common pintle axis to' thereby lend themselves or adjust themselves to accommodate stresses built up in the matrix-band: I-thas been repeatedly proven in actualpracticethat ina structure such as herein illustrated and described, a matrix band will con form to the particular configuration of anyshapedtoothto present-a barrier absolutely CIQS the block in a selected,

stationary with or'move at the bottom at or adjacent the root of the tooth so that the filling material will not escape and assist the remaining portion of the tooth in forming a completely surrounded cavity that may be packed with filling material. It has also been found that no dressing need be administered by the dentist to present a smooth, even, uninterrupted outer surface at the filling-tooth juncture line after the assemblage has been removed from the patient. This highly desired, and accomplished" result resides in the distinct individual pivotal mountings of the posts because they are arranged to adjust themselves independently of one another to permit the matrix band to conform to a, configuration controlled by the particular shape of the tooth being treated.

The front wall of the frame and preferably the adjacent portions of the legs are bifurcated as at 26" and thus two transversely spaced feet 21 are formed in the related end of the frame to A form non-slipping or non-skidding abutments arranged to bear against a tooth;

From the above it will be noted that various changes=and alterationsmay be made tothe illustrated and described construction without departing from the spirit of the invention: and scope of the appended claims;-

1. In a dental matrix retainer, the combination of; a frame member" havinga central guideway, power means pivotally mounted" on said frame member and having a" portion extending into said guideway, a block arranged in said guideway and movable longitudinally thereof by said power means; a: post pivotedto= said block at each sidethereofg' a-sl'ot-in each-post, a" matrix band having ends thereof' extending through said slotsand means carried by'said posts for" post fixing said matrix band to said posts.-

2'-. In a dental matrix retainer, the combination of, a frame;- havihg alongitudinali opening, means rotatably mounted on' said frame and having a portion thereof extending into saicl open-- ing; ablock slidably'carriedby'said frame within said opening and arranged for'movement by said' means, a post pivotally mounted to each side-ofsaid block; a slotextending through each post, a matrix band havingits respective ends extend-- ingthrough" said'post slots; and" rotatable means carried by said posts for holding said matrix band.

3. In a dental matrix retainer; theE combihation of, a frame having a' longitudinal opening; means rotatably mounted on"'said -frameandhav--' ing a portion thereof extending into-said opening; a block slidably carried by said framewithin said opening and arranged for movement by said means, a post pivotally'mounted' to'each side of said block, a slot extending through eachpost', a

matrix band having its respective ends extending through said post slots; and rotatable means" carried by-saidposts and extending into said islets forhol'ding; said matrixtband fixed to saidiposts'.

4'; In a dental matrixretainenthe combination of; a frame having; a longitudinal" opening;

power means rotatably'mount'ed on; said frame and having aportionthereof. extending'into' said' opening, a block slidably' carried by" said" frame within said opening and arranged for" movement longitudinally of said frame by said means; pivot meanscarried by said block; a" post at" each side of said block and carried v by said pivot' means; a slot extending through" each post, a fiexlblematrixband havingits respective ends" extendingthrough saidpostslots; and clampingmeans'car ried by said posts and extending into said slots and rotatable means in axial alignment with said for locking said matrix band and posts together. pivotal means for locking said matrix band ends 5. In a dental matrix retainer, the combinato said posts.

tion of, a frame having a longitudinal opening, DAVID REITER. means rotatably mounted on said frame and hav- .5 v ing a portion thereof extending into said opening, REFERENCES CITED 3. block having oppositely facing grooves occupied The following references are of record in the by associated parts of; said frame, said block being fil f this patent;

force supplied by said power means, pivot means 1 V UNITED STATES PATENTS carried by said bloclga post at each side of said Number Nam Date block and carried by'isaid pivot means, said posts 2,126,308 Butler Aug. 9,1938 being arranged to rotate about said pivot means 2,232,236 Hlavac et a]. Feb. 18, 1941 relative to one another, a matrix band having 

